iOS 11 vs. Android O: Is it still a race or we have a winner?

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With both the major mobile OS makers: apple and android baking the next iteration of their popular iOS and android respectively, this is the most exciting time of year for smartphone lovers,

awaiting the software update to hit their android, iPhones, and iPads in coming months. mobile app development is about to get a lot more exciting.

Although both iOS 11 and android O are in development phase, iOS 11 Preview and Android O Beta were released during WWDC 17 and I/O 2007 respectively for developers and enthusiasts to test and generate feedback.

I could install android O beta on my Nexus 6P and borrow an iPhone 6S installed with iOS 11 Preview from a co-blogger.

Compatibility android O beta

Anybody with a nexus 5X, nexus 6P and Pixel devices can install Android O Beta on their device. android app development is gonna be action filled with so many new feature to include.

Android devices you can install android O beta right away:

* You may need to sign up at google.com/android/beta with your Google account to receive the OTA. Some apps may not be fully compatible with android O beta yet.

Compatibility iOS 11 preview

Likewise, you need to accept the apple beta software program agreement during the sign-up process to install iOS 11 preview on your device, provided you own iPhone 5S or an iPhone, iPad released after it*.

Surprisingly, iPhone 5C is not compatible though iPod Touch 6th generation is. The complete list of a compatible device is in the table below.

iOS app development is still possible for devices other than those although apps may lack support for APIs introduced with iOS 11.

Apple devices you can install iOS 11 Preview on right away

* You may need to accept the apple beta software program agreement with your apple ID to receive the OTA. Some apps may not be fully compatible with iOS 11 Preview yet. iPhone 5C will not receive the update.

What’s new: android O beta

1. Background limits

Android didn’t limit number of apps that can run in the background until android nougat.

Actually, Google grew tired of reviewers and vendors asking it to optimize android for battery life. If you Rember it received heavy criticism during Kit Kat and android lollipop time.

Google O will put further restrictions on what apps can do in the background, particularly their most battery hogging features: broadcasts, background services, location updates will get fewer attempts.

So expect better battery life out of your android devices post this update.

Apple: iOS is very conservative over what apps can do and can’t. there are heavier restrictions that often frustrate iOS app developers.

My view: while android O is trying hard to bring android’s battery life onpar with that of iOS’s, it is nowhere near.

2. Picture-in-picture (PIP)

In youTube for Android, when you move away from watching a video without leaving the app, the video shrinks to the bottom right of the screen. The video keeps playing there unless you drag it off or play another video.

With Android O, Google is allowing developers to keep playing a video, in PIP mode, even after you exit the app. Not just YouTube, any app can enter PIP mode.

Google is in the process to issue fresh instructions on how developers can enable PIP mode in their existing apps.

Apple: iOS iPad has PIP video support for 3rd party developer since iOS 9.

My view: PIP will make people moving from iOS to android less alienated.

3. Autofill APIs

If you already use a password manager app like LastPass on your Android phone, Google is bringing native support to password managers on Android.

That’s you can choose a default password manager app just the way you choose the default keyboard app or browser on your phone.

You’ll need to remember fewer passwords and spend less time filling forms—entering information like name, phone number and email every then and now.

Apple: Apple is very considerate about which kind of apps can replace the default apps on it. For example, Apple allowed 3rd party keyboards support in iOS for the first time in iOS 8. android has this feature since Android Froyo.

My view: Apple must stop letting down its deep-pocketed users in the name of security.

What’s New: iOS 11 Preview

1. Drag and drop

Select a piece of text in your browser, drag it out, press the home button, open Notes app and drop over it. selected text will get posted over at Notes app. remember the first iPhone did not even have copy-paste functionality.

My view: Android lacked this support till android nougat.

2. Siri

Siri has been around since iPhone 4S. Siri on iOS 11 can translate between two languages and sounds less robotic and much more natural.